Fuel-Cell Integration on Board Surface Ships

David Ignacio Fuentes,Hernán De Lavalle Pérez

doi:10.25043/19098642.108

Abstract

Given the high levels of air pollution around the world, produced by the emission of greenhouse gases,the shipbuilding industry is in search of a "zero emissions" ship. To achieve this, research groups, havefocused on the further investigation of the fuel cells. These devices can produce energy by only usinghydrogen and oxygen as main power sources, having the next advantages features: low noise production,no emissions, and high efficiency. They can also be integrated with other systems. As Jules Verne wrote inhis “The Mysterious Island”, one day water will be used as fuel. The hydrogen and oxygen that constituteit, used alone and simultaneously, produce inexhaustible heat source and light intensity much greaterthan that of coal.

Highlights

The naval construction industry is committed to the scientific search for new forms of alternative and clean energy to be in tune with the 1973 international convention to prevent pollution from ships, which was modified by the 1978 protocol, known as MARPOL 73/78
An increasing number of research groups have felt the need to participate in said projects, their need for a single, complete, and up-to-date exposition to the technology and its applications have become evident, and it is widely registered in research on the theme around the world in different disciplines
The characteristics mentioned influence upon the type of fuel cell and their application is recommended in the ship project

Summary

Introduction

The naval construction industry is committed to the scientific search for new forms of alternative and clean energy to be in tune with the 1973 international convention to prevent pollution from ships, which was modified by the 1978 protocol, known as MARPOL 73/78. FFuel cells are devices with the capacity to produce energy, while hydrogen (which acts as fuel) and oxygen (which acts as oxidant) are supplied to electrodes These devices have the following principal characteristics: low noise level, little or no emission of contaminating gases, and high efficiency; in addition, it may be integrated with other systems for them to work as principal or secondary input source. A fuel cell functions much like a battery, “its functioning is based on the electrochemical reactions between a fuels, in this case a gas rich in hydrogen, and an oxidant, in this case oxygen from the air, with no intermediate combustion cycle It produces energy in the form of electricity and heat and as sub-product, it generates water 100% pure; does not emit pollutants”.1. 20 Ship Science & Technology - Vol 8 - n.° 16 - [19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28] January 2015 - Cartagena (Colombia)

E: Electrolyte F: Cathode catalyst layer G: Cathode ow channels H

10 Trend line

Conclusions and Recommendations